A guide on visiting Dhigurah Island, a budget-friendly paradise in the Maldives. This island is often overlooked but boasts stunning beauty with its long stretch of white sandy beach. Unlike the luxurious overwater resorts typical of the Maldives, Dhigurah is a local island with a more authentic experience.
For those looking to visit the Maldives without spending too much money, Dhigurah is a great option. This island offers beautiful tropical views typical of the Maldives, along with affordable family-owned hotels that start at just $70 USD per night.
During our recent trip to the Maldives, we explored two nearby islands, Dhigurah and Fulidhoo, and were extremely satisfied with our decision. Each island had its own unique charm and appeal.
In this guide, you will find information on how to reach Dhigurah island, activities to do there, accommodation options, and essential details to consider before your trip.
1) Accommodation options on Dhigurah
2) Transportation options to reach Dhigurah Island
3) Methods of getting around Dhigurah
4) Top activities to do on Dhigurah Island
5) Additional activities to consider on Dhigurah
6) Recommended length of stay on Dhigurah
7) Helpful tips for visiting Dhigurah
8) Accommodation options in Dhigurah
9) Ideal time to visit the Maldives
10) Additional travel guides for the Maldives.
Accommodation Options in Dhigurah
Athiri Beach Resort
Hotel Finolhu
Beach named after the whalesh
Happiness on Dhigurah Island
To reach Dhigurah Island, you will need to fly into the Maldives' capital city, Male International Airport (MLE), as there is no airport on Dhigurah itself. The airport is located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) away from Dhigurah.
If you are in Male, you have the option to travel to Dhigurah by speedboat, ferry, seaplane, or domestic flight. You can also choose to fly to a nearby island and then take a boat to reach Dhigurah.
Island of Dhigurah
Traveling to Dhigurah can be done through public speedboat, which is the primary mode of transportation to the island. Departures are available daily in the morning and afternoon from both Male airport and the city.
Traveling to Dhigurah by speedboat will take approximately 2 hours and will cost around $50 USD per person for a one-way trip. Children over the age of 3 will be charged the full price as well.
The boat ride is typically smooth, unless the weather is rough. The boat has a toilet and ample space for luggage storage. The boats are modern and the seats are comfortable. Additionally, they provide complimentary bottled water.
Boats leave from Male to Dhigurah at 11 AM and 4:30 PM, with an additional Friday departure at 10 AM. Returning boats from Dhigurah to Male depart at 6:30 AM and 1:30 PM, with a Friday departure at 1:45 PM. The journey includes a short stop at Dhangethi island on the way to Dhigurah.
It's important to note that there are several speedboat companies that run this route, and the schedule may vary from time to time. It's recommended to confirm the timetable with your hotel in Dhigurah before heading out.
When visiting Dhigurah, you can request your hotel to arrange a speedboat for you and charge it to your room bill upon arrival. This method saved us from the inconvenience of carrying large amounts of cash, as we were able to pay with a credit card instead.
Traveling by private speedboat may cost more than using public speedboats, but it can be more convenient if you want a direct and faster connection to Dhigurah from other islands in the Maldives.
You should be able to coordinate this with the hotel you are staying at on Dhigurah island.
Sluggish palm tree
Traveling to Dhigurah can be conveniently done by taking a short 20-minute domestic flight with Villa Air / FlyMe from Male to Maamigili island airport (VAM). From there, a quick 5-minute taxi ride will bring you to the harbor where you can then take a 20-minute speedboat ride to reach Dhigurah. This is a simple and efficient way to reach the island.
Typically, there are 3 or 4 flights scheduled per day for this route. Prices for one-way tickets begin at $170 USD for adults and $85 for children under 12 years old, with children under 2 flying for free. The cost usually includes the speedboat transfer.
If the waves are too rough for a regular boat ride, taking this alternative route may be the only way to reach Dhigurah.
• Taking a seaplane to Dhigurah is a picturesque and enjoyable option, but it is also the priciest mode of transportation.
The cost to purchase a ticket for this trip begins at $250 USD for each individual. The trip consists of a 30 minute plane ride to the Lux Resort located in the South Ari Atoll, followed by a 10 minute speedboat trip to Dhigurah.
Seaplane flights do not have a set schedule, so you will need to coordinate with your hotel beforehand. It is recommended to try to share the flight with other passengers traveling in the same direction for a more cost-effective option.
One way to get to Dhigurah from Male is by taking the public ferry. While it may be the slowest option, it is also the most affordable. The ferry ride takes approximately 6 to 7 hours and costs $8 USD for a single ticket.
MTCC operates this route multiple days a week, offering morning and evening departure times. You can check the latest schedule with MTCC or your hotel in Dhigurah, and they can assist you in purchasing tickets.
There are not many people at this beach.
Aerial photograph of Dhigurah island captured by a drone
After you reach Dhigurah, the next thing to do is figuring out how to travel around the island.
Fortunately, Dhigurah is compact enough to explore on foot. The island spans 4 kilometers in length and is narrow, with a width ranging from 100 to 200 meters. This makes it easy to walk from one end to the other.
One of the aspects of Dhigurah island that we found appealing was the convenience of not needing to pay for transportation. Hotels on the island offer bicycles for rent for half or full days if desired.
Top Activities on Dhigurah Island
• North West Beach / Bikini Beach
The primary beach on Dhigurah Island is known as North West Beach, stretching across the entire western side of the island. This beach is specifically designated as the 'bikini beach', where visitors can wear swimsuits and enjoy sunbathing.
This beach is stunning, featuring palm trees, numerous hermit crabs, and a peaceful atmosphere with few crowds. The water is gentle, making it safe for children to swim. On clear days, visitors can enjoy watching the sunset from the beach.
One popular spot for snorkeling is Turtle Reef, located near the middle of the area. Here, you have the opportunity to swim with baby sharks and sea turtles just a short swim away from the shore. Check out the map for directions.
Dhigurah's beach is known for being one of the longest beaches in the Maldives, and it's the reason behind the island's name, which translates to 'long island' in the local language.
An ideal spot to sit down and relax
Aerial photo of the beach where people wear bik
• Dhigurah's Main Attraction: Long Beach Sandbar
A popular feature of Dhigurah is the sandbar located at the southern tip of the island known as Long Beach. This beautiful spot has pristine white sand and clear shallow turquoise water, making it ideal for swimming or taking a leisurely stroll.
Starting from hotels located in the northern part of Dhigurah, you have the option to reach the sandbank by either walking along the beach for an hour or taking a path through the jungle. We chose to take the jungle path as it offers more shade and the opportunity to spot lizards and other wildlife.
The ideal time to visit the sandbar is around 9 or 10 in the morning, when there are fewer crowds and the sun is not too intense. If you prefer not to walk, you can also consider taking a bicycle or rickshaw from your hotel to get there.
At low tide, you can walk along the sandbar all the way to the nearby LUX Resort. However, only guests are allowed to be on the resort property.
Don't forget to bring a lot of water with you as it can become extremely hot during midday at the sandbar, and there are no places to purchase drinks. Towards the end of the beach, there are some sun chairs and umbrellas available for free where you can safely leave your belongings while you go for a swim.
The shallow area of land in the water at
Aerial photograph taken by a drone showing the sandbar located at the farthest point of the island.
The water is not deep at the sandbar.
Additional activities to enjoy while visiting Dhigurah.
Aerial photograph of Dhigurah – a beautiful island in the Maldives.
Duration of Stay
As the island is small, it is possible to explore most of it and experience the main attractions in just 2 or 3 days, but extending your stay would also be enjoyable. The writer spent 3 days in Dhigurah and felt that staying for a week or two would have been equally pleasant.
If you enjoy spending time at the beach and swimming in the ocean, you may also find it exciting to spend additional days exploring activities such as observing whale sharks and participating in other excursions near the island.
I'm sorry,
More suggestions for your trip to Dhigurah, a beautiful destination in the Maldives.
Strolling along the stretch of sand.
Water that is completely
Accommodations in Dhigurah
Athiri Beach accommodations
Hotel Finolhu
Whaleshark Beach is a
Happiness on the island of Dhigur
The ideal time to visit the Maldives is during the dry season in Dhigurah, which lasts from January to April. This period offers less rainy weather and more sunshine, making it the perfect time to experience the island.
Currently, there is an increased number of tourists in Maldives, however, during our visit in January, the island did not feel overcrowded at all.
The months with the highest amount of rainfall in the Maldives are from September to December. It is still possible to visit Dhigurah during this time, but there is a higher chance of encountering rain.
Our visit to Dhigurah was truly enjoyable!
Additional travel guides for the Maldives are available. Thank you for reading! I hope you found this travel guide for Dhigurah island in the Maldives enjoyable. It offers a luxurious experience at an affordable price.
Make sure to also take a look at my travel guide for Fulidhoo island! In Fulidhoo, there is a beach where you can spot a variety of beautiful stingrays, turtles, and nurse sharks on a daily basis.
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There are 16 comments on this informative article about a stunning, lesser-known island.
Expressing gratitude.
Is it allowed to go fishing from the shore in that area
Hello James. I don't think so, but they offer fishing trips and I saw some impressive fish caught in this region.
Thank you for telling us about your wonderful experience. We will definitely consider adding this island to our list for our trip in September!
Awesome! Enjoy your journey!
fantastic advice!
In October, we plan to visit Dhigurah and Fulidhoo. Can you share how you traveled between the two islands? It's been challenging to find this information.
Additionally, we only have a limited time frame of 7 nights. Do you believe this is sufficient, or should we consider only choosing one night instead?
I appreciate your gratitude
Hello Ben! I believe that spending 7 nights should be sufficient to explore both islands. I personally think that Dhigurah is the better option due to its size and amenities. Unfortunately, there is no direct transfer between the islands, so we had to return to Male first. The journey from Dhigurah to Male took us 2 hours, followed by a 1-hour wait, and then a 1-hour boat ride from Male to Fulidhoo. In total, the transfer took approximately 4 hours.
Hello! I recently visited Fulidhoo and I am thinking about visiting Dhigurah next. What were some of the reasons that made your experience in Dhigurah better than Fulidhoo?
Hey Charlene. We preferred Dhigurah because the beach was larger and more beautiful. There were times when you could take a walk and have the whole place to yourself, which was really pleasant.
Awesome! I really enjoy reading this blog.
I gained valuable knowledge from this post and am excited for future informative content.
Hi there, I appreciate you sharing this information. Can you provide a list of activities or outings available from Fulidhoo and Dhigurah? From what I understand, there are currently no organized trips to resorts from Fulidhoo.
Hello Andreea. I have listed the excursions available from Dhigurah in the blog post above. As for Fulidhoo, we did not inquire about resort trips, but our hotel there (Huvan Inn) offered excursions such as Shark Point, Coral Garden, Turtle Point, Shipwreck, Sandbank, Dolphin Tour, Whale Shark Tour, and Fishing. You can inquire with your hotel for more information on these activities.
I appreciate the advice! It's really helpful for organizing my upcoming trip 🙂
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Personal Introduction
Hello! I am David Leiter, a person from the United States who has been traveling non-stop for the past 9 years. My partner Intan and I spend most of our time in Bali, but we also visit various destinations around the globe. Feel free to join us on our adventures!
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